PEOPLE in East Lancashire were shell-shocked by rising debts, according to hard-pressed money advice units.

Debt counselling had become a boom business in the recession-hit towns as people flocked to advisors for help.

The Citizen's Advice Bureau in Pendle said more than 200 people a month were going to them on money-related matters - 10 per cent were calls from people who had seen their small businesses crash.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.